Vilnius (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced that the three Baltic nations had “successfully” joined the EU power grid after cutting ties with the Russian network.
In Vilnius, Nauseda told reporters,
Moments ago, I received great news. The synchronisation of the Baltic states’ electricity system with the continental European system has been successfully completed.
This is a historic moment marking the end of a long journey … We have achieved full energy independence. The period of political pressure and blackmail is finally over,
he stated.
He was joined by his Estonian and Latvian counterparts as well as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Poland’s president.
Lithuanian President called for “substantial action at the European Union level” to enhance the strength of the Baltic nation’s critical infrastructure.
Now is the time to secure our achievements. Russia’s war against Ukraine has radically transformed the perception of the threats to the critical infrastructure in Europe,
he stated.
Recent incidents involving undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea provide a matter of great concern. And a call for resolute action, as well,
he further said.
Why did the Baltic states cut ties with Russia’s grid?
The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania severed ties with Russia’s power grid mostly in a quest to minimise reliance on Russian energy sources and preclude Moscow’s using this dependence as a source of geopolitical leverage.
Tensions between Russia and the West since the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine starting in February 2022 further sharpened regional apprehensions over energy security. It’s a strategic play in an effort to remove the last leverage Russia maintains on them by controlling critical infrastructure such as electricity supply lines.
